Inglewood Councilmember Stevens Accused of Violating City and State Election Laws

By Sentinel News Service generalinfo@lasentinel.net

Published May 9, 2013

It has been reported to the Sentinel that Inglewood Councilman Mike Stevens approached a city of Inglewood employee, who asked not to be identified for fear of retaliation should Stevens remain in office, for financial support of his re-election campaign.It was also alleged that Stevens approached a second employee while they were working, in uniform, and in a marked City Vehicle and informed them that they had to support his campaign financially and to instruct the executive management of SEIU 721 to provide him “full financial backing” of their union.

Stevens also sent a letter addressed to city of Inglewood employees thanking them for their previous support and asking them to support his campaign financially as well as contact the “executive leadership” of SEIU Local 721 and let them know that they support Mike Stevens.SEIU 721 did support Stevens in the April 2 election but he came in 2nd place to George Dotson who garnered 45% of the vote. The organization’s members have since pulled back their support of Stevens as well as Councilmember Judy Dunlap and have not been as active or financially supportive in the June 11, 2013 run-off election.

If proven true these actions by the councilmember would be a violation of Inglewood’s city charter and of section 3205 of the Government Code detailed below:

California Government Code 3205 reads as follows:(a) An officer or employee of a local agency shall not, directly or indirectly, solicit a political contribution from an officer or employee of that agency, or from a person on an employment list of that agency, with knowledge that the person from whom the

contribution is solicited is an officer or employee of that agency.

(b) A candidate for elective office of a local agency shall not, directly or indirectly, solicit a political contribution from an officer or employee of that agency, or from a person on an employment

list of that agency, with knowledge that the person from whom the contribution is solicited is an officer or employee of that agency.

(c) This section shall not prohibit an officer or employee of a local agency, or a candidate for elective office in a local agency, from requesting political contributions from officers or employees of

that agency if the solicitation is part of a solicitation made to a significant segment of the public which may include officers or employees of that local agency.

(d) Violation of this section is punishable as a misdemeanor. The district attorney shall have all authority to prosecute under this section.

(e) For purposes of this section, the term “contribution” shall have the same meaning as defined in Section 82015.California Government Code 3205. (a) An officer or employee of a local agency shall not,

directly or indirectly, solicit a political contribution from an officer or employee of that agency, or from a person on an employment list of that agency, with knowledge that the person from whom the

contribution is solicited is an officer or employee of that agency.

Stevens did not return calls to the Sentinel regarding these allegations as of press time and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office would not comment on whether or not the councilmember was being investigated.